UNC Wilmington Defeats ODU, 7-0 In CAA Tourney Opener

WILMINGTON, NC--Daniel Cropper pitched a four hit shutout and thirdbaseman Matt Campbell scored four times to lead the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington (31-26) to a 7-0 victory over Old Dominion (28-25) in the first round of the CAA Baseball Championships at Brooks Field.

The Monarchs will play Georgia State Friday at 12 noon in an elimination game. The Panthers lost to James Madison, 4-0 earlier Thursday. This is the first back-to-back shutouts in the CAA Tournament since 2002.

Cropper allowed just four hits with one walk and four strikeouts for his eighth win of the season.

UNCW took the early lead in the first inning. Matt Campbell doubled with one out, then went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Andrew Cain's sacrifice fly ball to centerfield. The Seahawks upped the lead to 2-0 in the third inning on Matt Campbell's solo homer to left.

In the fourth Thomas Pope walked and went to third on David Shambley's bunt single and an ODU throwing error. Jake Koenig's sacrifice fly to center brought him home for a 3-0 Seahawk lead.

In the fifth inning Hunter Ridge belted is 9th homer of the season with Matt Campbell aboard.

UNCW added another on David Pope's sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead. In the seventh Cain doubled home Campbell.